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SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – Behind a balanced offensive attack and strong showing at the charity stripe, the Hanover women's basketball team defeated Susquehanna (Pa.), 79-58, in the consolation game of the Wittenberg Kiwanis Classic Saturday afternoon.

The Panthers (7-4) had nine different players score in the contest, with four posting double-digit efforts. Leading the way was sophomore Maleha Motter (Danville, Ind.), who finished with a team high 20 points and 15 rebounds. Motter made 10-of-11 free throw attempts, as her 20 points tied a career high. The sophomore averaged 14.5 points and 12.5 rebounds during the Kiwanis Classic, as she was named to the all-tournament team.

Overall, Hanover was 26-of-32 from the foul line, tying a season high for makes at the charity stripe. The Blue and Red outscored the River Hawks (5-5) by 22 points at the foul line.

Sophomore Brooke Todd (Vevay, Ind.) helped lead to the strong showing from the stripe, as she was a perfect 5-for-5 en route to tying a career high with 12 points. Todd added a career best five rebounds as well. Also adding 12 points was classmate Alexis Nall (Mount Vernon, Ind.), who netted all six of her field goal attempts.

In her first start of the season, junior Avery Chezem (Loogootee, Ind.) added 11 points, while tying for the team lead in assists with three. Classmate Macy Walker (Indianapolis, Ind.) also dished out three helpers in the game.

Hanover led by nine points, 20-11, after the first quarter of play thanks to an 8-0 run to close the period. Susquehanna scored on a jump shot at the 5:28 mark before the Blue and Red allowed just two more points before the first quarter buzzer.

The Panthers used another end-of-quarter run to push its lead to double digits at the intermission. Hanover outscored the River Hawks 12-4 over the final 4:35 of the opening half to lead 40-28.

The Blue and Red led by double figures for all but 17 seconds of the second half and a 13-4 fourth quarter run gave them their largest lead of the game, 22 points, at 77-55, with just over two minutes to play.

Hanover's 40-point first half marked the fourth time this season and the second time in the past three outings they have reached the scoring plateau in the first 20 minutes of play. The Panthers shot 50 percent in the first half, thanks in large part to an 8-for-12 (.667) effort in the second quarter.

Overall, HC enjoyed a .421 field goal percentage, making 24-of-57 field goal attempts. The River Hawks were held to a .333 shooting clip (25-75).

Hanover also controlled the glass, holding a 50-36 edge in rebounds. Each side grabbed 12 offensive rebounds, but it was the Blue and Red that won the battle of second chance points, 19-10.

The Panthers will now return to conference play for the final 14 games of its regular season schedule. The Panthers will be off until the New Year and will travel to face HCAC-leading Rose-Hulman at 7 p.m., next Wednesday, Jan. 3.